Smear Attack On TMA Boss Hits Rocks …As Assembly Defends, Exonerates Him
Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has refuted allegations made against its Chief Executive, Hon. Hon. Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, for demanding “bribe” from one Elvis Owusu-Adansi Jnr., Representative of Nehlsen Waste Power Plant Limited before appending his signature to a contract proposal that he, Elvis Owusu, and his partners had submitted to TMA.
The contract proposal sought for the approval of TMA to construct, operate and manage a Waste-to-Energy Power Plant facility to be sited at the TMA managed Landfill Site at Kpone.
Meanwhile, on a program carried out from Adom FM morning show “Dwaso Nsem” which was hosted by Captain Smart on Monday, 19th March, 2018, it was alleged that the MCE demanded bribe from the said company. This allegation was also widely publicized by Captain Smart on the “Fa be woso” segment of the morning show.
However, management of TMA in a swift rebuttal to what it described as “frivolous” claims indicated that the allegations made by Mr. Owusu-Adansi Jnr, were unfounded and of no merit.
According to TMA, his unsubstantiated accusations are unfortunate, and we call on all Ghanaians and residents in Tema to treat same with the contempt that it deserves.
Presenting the fact regarding the said contract, the TMA averred that the deal in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), six Assemblies, including the TMA entered into a Waste Recycling and Energy Agreement on 15th March, 2015 with Amerch-Africa Ltd., in which the proposed plant to be constructed by AMERCH-AFRICA is to be located at Tema whilst the other Assemblies involved to deliver their waste to Tema.
“The wastes of these Assemblies are guaranteed to AMERCH-AFRICA. In effect, these Assemblies will no longer have “Waste” for purposes of entering into any other contracts with similar objectives. Subsequent to this Agreement, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly has received several approaches from companies with similar objectives but they were duly informed of the existing commitment with AMERCH-AFRICA,” the Assembly stated.
It also revealed that a lady representative of the NEHLSEN Ghana Ltd, came to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly with a proposal to manage the TMA Landfill Site for the purposes of Recycling and Waste to Energy, and in that discussion, the Solicitor of the Assembly, upon receipt of this proposal, informed her that the TMA was already committed to AMERCH-AFRICA and it will be impossible to enter into another contract with a similar objective.
It said: “It is our desire to save the Assembly and the nation from any potential suit from Amerch-Africa and that the Hon. MCE has refused to sign any further agreement in spite of several calls made on him by NEHLSEN and other companies.”
According to the Assembly, it found it utterly repulsive that the host of the Programme, Mr. Smart, allowed Mr. Owusu to perpetuate falsehood against the personality of the Tema Mayor, and also against the TMA as a corporate entity, and refused to give a fair hearing to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Assembly who called into the programme to intervene.
“The TMA takes strong exception to the derogatory comments made by Captain Smart against an Officer of the Assembly.
Unless one is actuated by malice and reasons beyond understanding, why would a journalist spew out such lies without regard to verifying the source of information it received?”
It has therefore stated categorically that the Hon. MCE Mr. Felix Mensah Anang-La has not demanded, collected nor received any amount whether in cash or equity from NEHLSEN or any entity before he signs a contract.
“The Metropolitan Assembly is demanding that Mr. Smart and Mr. Owusu go on the same media platform that they used to denigrate the reputation of Hon Nii Anang-La, MCE of Tema to RETRACT and APOLOGISE again, we demand an unqualified apology from Captain Smart for using his platform to peddle falsehood against the TMA within 24 hours.”
The Assembly also pointed out that the MCE reserves his right to use any legal means to vindicate his hard earned reputation if the two fail to abide by the order.
By: Investigative Desk
